The midlife health of only children: chronic disease indicators and biomarkers by sibship size in three nationally representative UK cohorts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite persistent concerns about only children's disadvantage relative to individuals with siblings, existing health-related evidence is inconsistent. Recent evidence from Nordic countries about only children having poorer health outcomes may not apply elsewhere because selection processes differ across contexts. We investigate the midlife health of only children in the UK where one-child families tend to be socio-economically advantaged relative to large families.

Methods

Using the 1946, 1958 and 1970 British birth cohort studies, we examine various biomarkers and self-reported measures of chronic disease by sibship size when respondents are aged in their mid-40s, mid-50s and mid-60s. We estimate separate linear probability models for each cohort, age and outcom

SUBMITTER: Chanfreau J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11371166 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature